The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China has granted
Singapore Cargo Airlines permission to exercise "the fifth freedom
rights" between Singapore and Chicago via Xiamen in
Fujian
Province and Nanjing in
Jiangsu
Province. This is the first time that the Chinese mainland has
granted the "fifth freedom rights" to a foreign air carrier.
The "fifth freedom rights", specified in the Chicago international
aviation convention, refers to the privileges that a government
grants international carriers to pick up passengers and cargo on
its territory en route to other destinations.
The CAAC said there will be three weekly flights via Xiamen and
Nanjing under the new rights scheme from Singapore to the United
States. It can pick up cargo in Chinese mainland en route to its
destination.
Figures from the CAAC show there are a total of 54 direct flights a
week already between China and the United States. However, the
development of the air cargo market between the two countries has
been stifled by the shortage of flight rights.
The opening of China's "fifth freedom rights" will help China
enhance its competitive advantage as a regional hub, the CAAC
pointed out. Meanwhile, the "fifth freedom rights" have become more
common as airlines seek to expand their network of destinations and
become more global in scope.
(CCTV May 24, 2003)